History Main / TheCaper

** ''GTAV'' takes this premise and runs with it - not only are there several heists in the game, each one has a variety of missions associated with it to prepare for said heist. For example, when the team plans to rob a jewelry store, they send in a guy to case the joint and take pictures of the various security systems. Once they have the pictures, the player has to make a decision on whether to go in "loud and dumb" with guns blazing, or recruit a hacker and steal some knockout gas, an exterminator's van, and dress up as exterminators so that people won't question their gas masks. You also need to hire a crew to help you with the support stuff - the more competent they are, the bigger take they demand. And finally, after all that, comes the heist itself.

* In ''Literature/SkinGame'', fifteenth book in TheDresdenFiles, Harry is on a crew trying to steal [[spoiler: the Holy Grail from the vault of Hades (yes, that Hades).]]

%% * ''{{Film/Bound}}''

* In ''WebComic/CommanderKitty'', [[http://www.commanderkitty.com/2009/04/12/nin-wah/ outlaw spacer Grootly and his crew think they're being hired for this kind of job]]. It turns out they've been[[http://www.commanderkitty.com/2009/06/12/the-tagged/ lured into an audience]] with an [[BigBad evil mastermind]] [[spoiler: who wants them for their parts]].

%% Image selected per Image Pickin' thread: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1439109402034571700
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[[caption-width-right:350: Remember: [[Film/TheItalianJob1969 You're only supposed to blow the bloody doors off!]]]]

The Caper is more action-oriented than TheCon. It often revolves around a [[TheChessmaster brilliant]] GentlemanThief who JustGotOutOfJail hoping to do OneLastJob, usually by PuttingTheBandBackTogether (in comedies, a RagtagBunchOfMisfits). Can lead to JustLikeRobinHood as a way of CaperRationalization.

* ''{{Neuromancer}}'' is built around a caper, but stakes in this one rise out of the normal territory as the story progresses.

TheCaper is more action-oriented than TheCon. It often revolves around a [[TheChessmaster brilliant]] GentlemanThief who JustGotOutOfJail hoping to do OneLastJob, usually by PuttingTheBandBackTogether (in comedies, a RagtagBunchOfMisfits). Can lead to JustLikeRobinHood as a way of CaperRationalization.

* A lot of the filler arcs of ''GetBackers'' qualify as TheCaper. Even though the titular characters only steal items to return then to their original owners, sometimes the definition of "original owner" can get really fuzzy (especially with Clayman).

* The point of virtually all ''Franchise/LupinIII'' stories.

* ''Film/TheAsphaltJungle'' - A deconstruction in which TheCaper ends badly for all participants. Also the TropeMaker.

* ''Ocean's Eleven'' ([[Film/{{Oceans 11}} original]], [[Film/OceansEleven remake]], and remake sequels).
* The Stanley Kubrick film ''Film/TheKilling''.

* ''Film/TheBankJob''
* ''Film/BankShot''
* ''Film/InsideMan'', in a roundabout fashion.
* ''The Italian Job'' - both [[Film/TheItalianJob2003 the new one]] and the [[Film/TheItalianJob1969 original one]].
* ''ThePinkPanther''
* ''Film/{{Sneakers}}''. [[DoubleCaper Multiple times]].
* ''Takers''

* ''Film/{{Armored}}''
* ''Film/HowToStealAMillion''

* The latest ''Film/StTrinians'' movie (and the older ones, too).
* Used in both straight and subverted forms in ''Film/TheUsualSuspects''.

* The first part of ''Film/{{Ronin}}''.

* ''Film/KillingZoe'' is what happens when TheCaper is attempted [[AddledAddict while on heroin]]. Things don't end well.
* ''Film/TheLadykillers'' (both versions)
* ''Film/TheLavenderHillMob''
* ''Foolproof''

* ''Who's Minding the Mint?''
* ''How To Beat The High Cost Of Living''
* ''Film/TheGreatTrainRobbery''

* ''Film/TheHotRock''
* ''Henry's Crime''
* ''Gambit''
* ''Going in Style''

* ''The Great Riviera Bank Robbery'' (also known as ''Sewers of Gold'')
* ''Film/TheBrinksJob''
* ''Loophole''
* ''Film/TowerHeist''
* ''The Master's Touch''

* ''Film/DayOfTheWolves''
* ''Literature/TheFriendsOfEddieCoyle''
* ''Film/TheTown''
* ''Mad Money''

* ''ANightingaleSanginBerkeleySquare''
* ''Film/FunWithDickAndJane''

* ''CarryOnMatron''

* ''Film/TradingPlaces''
* ''Film/ThunderboltAndLightfoot''
* ''{{Film/Bound}}''

* ''Film/TheScore''

* ''Film/HighSierra''
* ''Film/TheThieves''

** And on that note, ''Literature/{{Parker}}''.

* The ''VideoGame/CityOfHeroes'' summer event mission "Casino Heist" is based on the tropes of TheCaper, with the players taking the parts of the CaperCrew.

* Both versions of ''TheThomasCrownAffair.''
* ''Armored''

* The latest ''StTrinians'' movie (and the older ones, too).

->''We were discussing the difference between a robbery and a heist. And I think a robbery is where you feel sorry for the victims, and a heist is where you sort of hope they get away with it.''
-->--'''Holly Walsh''', ''Radio/TheNewsQuiz''

Told from the criminal viewpoint, a group plans and executes an elaborate crime. The [[CaperCrew criminals]] are usually more rounded than the opposition, or at least more colorful. Usually contains at least one ATeamMontage or AvengersAssemble sequence. When the crime is a robbery, the plot is called a "heist."

TheCaper is more action-oriented than TheCon. Often revolves around a [[TheChessmaster brilliant]] GentlemanThief who JustGotOutOfJail hoping to do OneLastJob, usually by PuttingTheBandBackTogether (which, in comedies, is usually a RagtagBunchOfMisfits). Can lead to JustLikeRobinHood as a way of CaperRationalization.

The members of a CaperCrew often fall into standard roles. For targets, see BankRobbery, ArmedBlag, TheCasino, TrainJob. See also ImpossibleMission, TheInfiltration and DoubleCaper. Not to be confused with TheCape.

Told from the criminal viewpoint, a group plans and executes an elaborate robbery. The [[CaperCrew criminals]] are usually more rounded than the opposition, or at least more colorful. Usually contains at least one ATeamMontage or AvengersAssemble sequence. May feature a PlotTailoredToTheParty. Alternately called a "heist." May be played seriously or as a comedy. In the former, there is generally a [[NoHonorAmongThieves fallout among thieves]] after the heist, while the latter may end on a note of [[CantGetAwayWithNuthin poetic justice]].

When adding examples, if a work is more noted for being TheCon than TheCaper, but some episodes were TheCaper, please identify the episode, or at least give plot details so that it can be identified.

* ''Film/CasinoRoyale'' (and [[Film/CasinoRoyale1967 the 1967 spoof]]) The idea is to relieve Le Chiffre of all his money.

* ''Film/KillingZoe" is what happens when TheCaper is attempted [[ThisIsYourPremiseOnDrugs while on heroin]]. Things don't end well.

* ''Ocean's Eleven'' ([[{{Oceans 11}} original]], [[OceansEleven remake]], and remake sequels).

* The FX character drama ''Thief'' revolves around this trope, as does the NBC actioner, ''Webcomic/{{Heist}}''.

* The FX character drama ''Thief'' revolves around this trope, as does the NBC actioner, ''{{Heist}}''.

* ''Series/MissionImpossible'' prided itself on its use of TheCaper.

* In ''ImpureBlood'', Roan's rescue. Since he was [[MadeASlave a slave]], technically a robbery as well.

* In an early episode of ''ArmoredTrooperVOTOMS'', Chirico and company hijack a [[{{Unobtainium}} jijirium]] shipment.

->''We were discussing the difference between a robbery and a heist. And I think a robbery is where you feel sorry for the victims, and a heist is where you sort of hope they get away with it."

->''We were discussing the difference between a robbery and a heist. And I think a robbery is where you feel sorry for the victims, and a heist is where you sort of hope they get away with it.

* The ''CityOfHeroes'' summer event mission "Casino Heist" is based on the tropes of TheCaper, with the players taking the parts of the CaperCrew.